WQXR Blogs List

Handel's Theodora: Libretto

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Below is the libretto for Handel's Theodora, as heard on a recent broadcast of Carnegie Hall Live. Please note that, due to time constraints, two Act I arias were cut from this broadcast: "Bane of virtue, nurse of passions" (sung by Irene) and "Dread the fruits of Christian folly" (Septimius). Cuts were made in consultation with conductor Harry Bicket.

ACT ONE

Overture

Scene 1

Valens, Didymus, Septimius, Chorus of Heathens.

Recitative

Valens 'Tis Dioclesian's natal day. Proclaim throughout the bounds of Antioch A feast, and solemn sacrifice to Jove. Whoso disdains to join the sacred rites, Shall feel our wrath in chastisement, or death. And this, Septimius, take you in charge.

Air

Chorus of Heathens

And draw a blessing down, On his imperial crown, Who rules the world below.

Recitative

Didymus Vouchsafe, dread Sir, a gracious ear To my request. Let not thy sentence doom To racks and flames, all, all, whose scrup'lous minds Will not permit them, or, to bend the knee To gods they know not, or, in wanton mood, To celebrate the day with Roman rites.

Valens Art thou a Roman, and yet dar'st defend A sect, rebellious to the gods and Rome?

Didymus Many there are in Antioch, who disdain An idol-offering, yet are friends to Cæsar.

Valens It cannot be. They are not Cæsar's friends, Who own not Cæsar's gods. I'll hear no more.

Chorus of Heathens

For ever thus stands fix'd the doom, Of rebels to the gods and Rome, While sweeter than the trumpet's sound, Their groans and cries are heard around.

Scene 2

Recitative

Didymus Most cruel edict! Sure, thy generous soul, Septimius, abhors the dreadful task Of persecution. Ought we not to leave The free-born mind of man still ever free? Since vain is the attempt to force belief With the severest instrument of death?

Recitative

Septimius I know thy virtues, and ask not thy faith; Enjoy it as you will, my Didymus. Though not a Christian, for I worship still The gods my fathers worship'd, yet I own, Something within declares for acts of mercy. But Antioch's President must be obey'd; Such is the Roman discipline, while we Can only pity, whom we dare not spare.

Air

Recitative

Irene O bright example of all goodness! How easy seems affliction's heavy load, While thus instructed, and companion'd thus, As 'twere with Heav'n conversing, we look down On the vain pomp of proud prosperity.

Scene 4

Recitative

Irene Ah! Whither should we fly, or fly from whom? The Lord is still the same, today, for ever, And his protection here, and everywhere. Though gath'ring round our destin'd heads The storm now thickens, and looks big with fate, Still shall thy servants wait on Thee, O Lord, And in thy saving mercy put their trust.

Air

Irene As with rosy steps the morn, Advancing, drives the shades of night, So from virtuous toil well-borne, Raise Thou our hopes of endless light. Triumphant saviour, Lord of day, Thou art the life, the light, the way! As with rosy steps. . . da capo

Chorus of Christians

All pow'r in Heav'n above or earth beneath Belongs to Thee alone, Thou Everlasting One, Mighty to save in perils, storm and death.

Scene 5

Enter Septimius.

Recitative

Septimius Mistaken wretches! Why thus blind to fate, Do ye in private oratories dare Oppose the President's decree, and scorn With native rites to celebrate the day Sacred to Cæsar and protecting Jove?

Recitative

Theodora Deluded mortal! Call it not rebellion, That thus we persevere in spirit and truth, To worship God: it is his dread command, His whom we cannot, dare not, disobey, Though death be our reward.

Septimius Death is not yet thy doom: But worse than death to such a virtuous mind, Lady, these guards are order'd to convey you To the vile place, a prostitute, to devote your charms.

Accompagnato

Theodora Oh, worse than death indeed! Lead me, ye guards, Lead me, or to the rack, or to the flames, I'll thank your gracious mercy.

Scene 6

Recitative

Irene Alas! She's gone. Too late thou cam'st to save, if in thy pow'r To save, the fairest, noblest, best of women. A Roman soldier led her trembling hence To the vile place, where Venus keeps her court.

Air

Didymus Kind Heav'n, if virtue be thy care, With courage fire me, Or art inspire me, To free the captive fair. On the wings of the wind will I fly, With this princess to live, or this Christian to die. Kind Heav'n. . . da capo

Exit Didymus.

Scene 7

Recitative

Irene O love, how great thy pow'r! But greater still, When virtue prompts the steady mind to prove Its native strength in deeds of highest honour.

Chorus of Christians

Go, gen'rous, pious youth, May all the pow'rs above Reward thy virtuous love, Thy constancy and truth, With Theodora's charms, Free from these dire alarms; Or crown you with the blest, In glory, peace and rest.

ACT TWO

Scene 1

Valens, and Chorus of Heathens.

Recitative

Valens Ye men of Antioch, with solemn pomp, Renew the grateful sacrifice to Jove; And while your songs ascend the vaulted skies, Pour on the smoking altars floods of wine, In honour of the smiling deities, Fair Flora, and the Cyprian queen.

Chorus of Heathens

Queen of summer, queen of love And thou, cloud-compelling Jove, Grant a long and happy reign, To great Cæsar, king of men.

Air

Valens Wide spread his name, And make his glory Of endless fame The lasting story.

Recitative

Valens Return, Septimius, to the stubborn maid, And learn her final resolution. If ere the sun with prone career has reach'd The western isles, she deigns an offering To the great gods, she shall be free; if not, The meanest of my guards with lustful joy Shall triumph o'er her boasted chastity.

Chorus of Heathens

Venus laughing from the skies, Will applaud her votaries. While seizing the treasure We revel in pleasure, Revenge sweet love supplies.

Symphony

Recitative

Air

Theodora Oh, that I on wings could rise, Swiftly sailing through the skies, As skims the silver dove! That I might rest, For ever blest, With harmony and love. Oh, that I on wings. . . da capo

Scene 3

Didymus and Septimius.

Recitative

Didymus Long have I known thy friendly social soul, Septimius, when side by side We fought, dependant on each other's arm.

With freedom then, I will disclose my mind. I am a Christian, And she, who by Heaven's influential grace With pure religious sentiments inspir'd My soul, with virtuous love inflam'd my heart, Ev'n she, who, shame to all humanity, Is now condemn'd to public lust.

Septimius No more! The shame reflects too much upon thy friend, The mean, though duteous instrument of pow'r, Knowing her virtues only, not thy love.

Air

Septimius Though the honours that Flora and Venus receive From the Romans, this Christian refuses to give, Yet nor Venus, nor Flora, delight in the woe That disfigures their fairest resemblance below.

Recitative

Septimius My guards, not less asham'd of their vile office, Will second your intent, and pleasure me.

Didymus I will reward them with a bounteous heart, And you, my friend, with all that Heav'n can give To the sincerity of Pray'r.

Air

Didymus Deeds of kindness to display, Pity suing, Mercy wooing, Who the call can disobey? But the opportune redress Of virtuous beauty in distress, Earth will praise and Heav'n repay. Deeds of kindness. . . da capo

Scene 4

Irene, with the Christians.

Recitative

Irene The clouds begin to veil the hemisphere, And heavily bring on the night, the last Perhaps to us. Oh, that it were the last To Theodora, ere she fall a prey To unexampled lust and cruelty.

Air

Recitative

Theodora (starting) Oh, save me, Heav'n, in this my perilous hour!

Didymus Start not, much injur'd princess, I come not As one, this place might give you cause to dread; But your deliverer, sent by just Heav'n, To save the world's unrivaIl'd ornament Of virtue, faith, and every Christian grace; And that dear ornament to Theodora, Her angel-purity. If you vouchsafe, But to change habit with your Didymus (discovering himself).

Theodora Excellent youth! I know thy courage, virtue and thy love; And never can consent they should destroy Their author. This becomes not Theodora, But the blind enemies of truth. Oh no, It must not be! Yet Didymus can give A boon, will make me happy, nor himself Endanger.

Didymus How, or what? My soul with transport Listens to the request.

Air

Theodora The pilgrim's home, the sick man's health, The captive's ransom, poor man's wealth, From thee I would receive. These, and a thousand treasures more, That gentle death has now in store, Thy hand and sword can give.

Accompagnato

Didymus Forbid it, Heav'n! Shall I destroy the life I came to save? Shall I in Theodora's blood embrue My guilty hands, and give her death, who taught Me first to live? Or say, what right have I To take, what just reflection bids confess Not at your own disposal? Think it too, No less a crime, if, thus inflexible, Your safety you refuse. Time forbids more, Strait then resolve to gain your liberty, Preserve your honour, and secure your life.

Theodora Ah! What is liberty or life to me, That Didymus must purchase with his own?

Didymus Fear not for me; the pow' r that led me hither Will guard me hence. If not, His will be done!

Theodora Yes, kind deliverer, I will trust that pow'r To hear my pray'r for thee, so lately heard For Theodora; who had ne'er exposed Her friend to shun a danger that concern'd Only her Life. Farewell, thou generous youth!

Didymus Farewell, thou mirror of the virgin state!

Duet

Theodora To thee, thou glorious son of worth, Be life and safety giv'n.

Scene 6

Irene, with the Christians.

Recitative

Irene 'Tis night, but night's sweet blessing is denied To grief like ours. How can we think of sleep, While Theodora wakes to misery, And threat'ning death hangs hovering o'er our heads? Be pray'r our refuge, pray'r to Him, who rais'd, And still can raise, the dead to life and joy.

Chorus of Christians

He saw the lovely youth, death's early prey, Alas, too early snatch'd away! He heard his mother's fun'ral cries: "Rise, youth", He said. The youth begins to rise. Lowly the matron bow'd, and bore away the prize.

ACT THREE

Scene 1

Irene, with the Christians.

Air

Irene Lord, to Thee each night and day, Strong in hope, we sing and pray. Though convulsive rocks the ground, And thy thunders roll around, Still to Thee, each night and day, We sing and pray. Lord, to Thee. . . da capo

Scene 2

Enter Theodora, in the habit of Didymus.

Recitative

Irene But see, the good, the virtuous Didymus! Wakeful as Philomel, with throbbing heart, He comes to join with us in pray'r for Theodora.

Theodora (discovering herself) No, Heav'n has heard your pray'rs for Theodora. Behold her safe! Oh, that as free and safe Were Didymus, my kind deliverer! But let this habit speak the rest.

Air

Theodora When sunk in anguish and despair, To Heav'n I cried, Heav'n heard my pray'r, And bade a tender father's care The gen'rous youth employ. The gen'rous youth obey'd and came, All wrapt in love's divinest flame, To save a wretched virgin's fame, And turn her grief to joy.

Solo and Chorus

Christians Blest be the hand, and blest the pow'r, That in this dark and dang'rous hour, Sav'd thee from cruel strife.

Theodora and Christians Lord, favour still the kind intent, And bless thy gracious instrument With liberty and life.

Scene 3

Enter Messenger.

Recitative

Messenger Undaunted in the court stands Didymus, Virtuously proud of rescued innocence. But vain to save the gen'rous hero's life Are all entreaties, ev'n from Romans vain. And, high-enrag'd, the President protests, Should he regain the fugitive, no more To try her with the fear of infamy, But with the terrors of a cruel death.

Theodora O my Irene, Heav'n is kind, And Valens too is kind, to give me pow'r To execute in turn my gratitude, While safe my honour. Stay me not, dear friend, Only assist me with a proper dress, That I may ransom the too gen'rous youth.

Duet

Irene Whither, Princess, do you fly, Sure to suffer, sure to die?

Theodora No, no, Irene, no, To life and joy I go.

Irene Vain Attempt, oh stay, oh stay!

Theodora Duty calls, I must obey.

Exit Theodora.

Recitative

Irene She's gone, disdaining liberty and life, And ev'ry honour this frail life can give. Devotion bids aspire to nobler things, To boundless love, and joys ineffable: And such her expectation from kind Heav'n.

Air

Irene New scenes of joy come crowding on While sorrow fleets away, Like mists before the rising sun That gives a glorious day.

Scene 4

Valens, Didymus, Septimius, and Chorus of Heathens.

Recitative

Valens Is it a Christian virtue then, To rescue, from the hands of justice, one Condemn'd by my authority?

Didymus Such my religion, it condemns all crimes, None more than disobedience to just pow'r. And had your sentence doom'd her, but to death, I then might have deplor'd your cruelty, And not attempted to defeat it. Yet, I own no crime, unless it be a crime To've hindered you from perpetrating that Which would have made you odious to mankind, At least the fairest half.

Valens Aye, aye, fond man It was the charms of beauty, not of virtue, That tempted you to save her. Take him hence, And lead him to repentance, or to death.

Scene 5

Enter Theodora.

Theodora Be that my doom. You may inflict it here, With legal justice, there 'tis cruelty.

Air

Air

Valens Cease, ye slaves, your fruitless pray'r! The pow'rs below No pity know, For the brave, or for the fair.

Recitative

Didymus (to Septimius) 'Tis kind, my friends, but kinder still If for this daughter of Antiochus, In mind, as noble as her birth, your pray'rs Prevail, that Didymus alone shall die.(to Theodora) Had I as many lives as virtues thou, Freely for thee I would resign them all.

Theodora Oppose not, Didymus, my just desires; For know, that 'twas dishonour I declin'd, Not death, most welcome now, if Didymus Were safe, whose only crime was my escape.

AirTheodora Lost in anguish, quite despairing, Heav’n alone for virtue caring, Then the gen’rous youth did fly Heav’n and love at once obeying, Nor from virtue ever straying, Bless’d this moment let me die

Chorus of Heathens

How strange their ends, And yet how glorious, Where each contends, To fall victorious, Where virtue its own innocence denies, And for the vanquish'd the glad victor dies!